The Champions League has changed. Honestly, if you're still looking for the old "four teams in a group" format, you've probably realized by now that UEFA basically flipped the table. With the new 36-team league phase wrapping up this month, everyone is asking the same thing: when is the round of 16 champions league draw and how does it actually work now?
The short answer? The official draw for the round of 16 is scheduled for February 27, 2026.
But there is a catch. Because of the new "Swiss-style" format, there are actually two different draws you need to care about if your team is still in the hunt. Unlike previous years where we just waited for December and pulled balls out of a bowl, the 2025/26 season has a staggered knockout entry.
The Two-Step Draw Process (Don't Miss This)
Before we even get to the round of 16 draw, there’s the knockout phase play-off draw. This is for the teams that didn't finish in the top eight. If your club finished between 9th and 24th in the league table, they have to survive a "play-off" round first.
- Knockout Play-off Draw: January 30, 2026.
- The Big One (Round of 16 Draw): February 27, 2026.
Basically, the top eight teams from the league phase get a "bye." They get to put their feet up while everyone else beats each other up in mid-February. Those top eight teams are automatically seeded for the February 27 draw.
📖 Related: Ryan Suter: What Most People Get Wrong About the NHL's Ultimate Survivor
Why the February 27 date matters
This is the day the "bracket" becomes reality. In the past, UEFA would draw the round of 16, then hold another draw for the quarter-finals. Not anymore. On February 27, 2026, at 12:00 CET in Nyon, UEFA will map out the entire path to the final in Budapest. You'll know exactly which side of the bracket your team is on and who they might face in the semi-finals before they've even played a minute of the round of 16.
How the Round of 16 Draw Works in 2026
The seeding system is kinda intense now. It's no longer just "group winners vs. runners-up." Everything is dictated by where teams finished in that giant 36-team table.
Teams ranked 1st through 8th in the league phase are the "seeded" teams. They will be drawn against the winners of the play-off round. There is a bit of a "tennis-style" bracket logic here. For example, the teams that finished 1st and 2nd in the league phase are placed on opposite sides of the bracket. This is designed so they can’t meet until the final—assuming they keep winning.
Real-world scenarios
Let's look at the current landscape. As of mid-January 2026, we’ve seen heavyweights like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Real Madrid hovering near those top eight spots. If Arsenal or Chelsea slip to 9th, they’ll be in that January 30 draw and will have to play an extra two games in February.
👉 See also: Red Sox vs Yankees: What Most People Get Wrong About Baseball's Biggest Feud
You've gotta remember: teams from the same association can play each other in the knockout stages now. That old rule about "country protection" is basically gone once we hit the round of 16. If we get a Manchester City vs. Liverpool clash in the last 16, that's just the luck of the draw.
Important Dates for Your Calendar
If you're planning travel or just trying to figure out when to clear your Tuesday and Wednesday nights, here is the breakdown of the actual match days following the draw.
- Play-off First Legs: February 17–18, 2026.
- Play-off Second Legs: February 24–25, 2026.
- Round of 16 First Legs: March 10–11, 2026.
- Round of 16 Second Legs: March 17–18, 2026.
The seeded teams (the top eight from the league phase) always play the second leg at home. That's a huge advantage. Imagine having 60,000 fans screaming at Anfield or the Etihad for a deciding second leg after a cagey 1-1 draw in the first leg. It's what every manager is sweating for right now.
Where to watch the draw
UEFA usually streams these things live on their official website (UEFA.com) and their YouTube channel. If you’re in the UK, TNT Sports usually carries it. For fans in the US, Paramount+ or CBS Sports Golazo Network is your best bet. It’s usually a bit of a long-winded ceremony with retired legends talking about "the magic of the cup," but the actual ball-pulling happens pretty fast once they get started at noon Central European Time.
✨ Don't miss: OU Football Depth Chart 2025: Why Most Fans Are Getting the Roster Wrong
What most people get wrong about the new format
The biggest misconception is that the round of 16 draw is completely random. It isn't. Because the bracket is "predetermined" based on league rankings, the draw is more about assigning teams to specific "slots" in the bracket.
Think of it like the World Cup or a tennis grand slam. The goal is to reward the teams that performed best over the eight league-phase games. If you finished 1st, you get an "easier" path (on paper) than the team that finished 8th.
Also, don't expect a separate draw for the quarter-finals. February 27 is the "one draw to rule them all." Once those balls are out of the bowls, the road to the Puskás Aréna in Budapest is set in stone.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're following the when is the round of 16 champions league draw news closely, here is what you should do next:
- Check the League Table on January 28: That is the final matchday of the league phase. All 18 matches happen simultaneously. By the end of that night, you'll know if your team is "Safe" (Top 8), "In the Play-offs" (9-24), or "Out" (25-36).
- Set a Reminder for Jan 30: Even if your team is in the top eight, you'll want to watch the play-off draw. These are the teams your club will eventually face in March.
- Book March Travel Early: If your team is in the top eight, you already know they will be away on March 10/11 and home on March 17/18. You don't even need the draw to know the home date, just the opponent!
- Monitor UEFA's Official Site: While February 27 is the date, the exact time and "technical procedure" (which can be confusing) are usually published about 48 hours beforehand.
The 2025/26 season is the first time we're seeing this knockout structure play out in full. It’s chaotic, it’s a lot of matches, and honestly, it’s a bit of a headache to track—but it’s going to make for a wild end of February.